Fairy Tales and Myths or Facts?

Reading the book of Luke reveals some very interesting things about the Bible. We'll use Luke chapter 1 as the basis for several key points.

Fairy Tales or Myths?

When you read your child a fairy tale, how does it begin? Something like, "Once upon a time in a land far away..." Notice how Luke's story of Jesus begins. Luke 1:5 reads "There was in the days of Herod, the king of Judea, a certain priest named Zacharias, of the division of Abijah. His wife was of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth." Once upon a time is replaced by "in the days of Herod, the king of Judea" Herod was from a well-known, historical ruling family. The story didn't take place in a far away land. It was Judea, a place we can locate on our maps today. Zacharias was no made up character. He was a priest of the division of Abijah and his wife a descendant of Aaron.

Just the Facts

Luke, the writer, opens himself up for severe scrutiny by giving so much factual information. To witness just how vulnerable Luke is willing to be, read Luke 2:1,2 and Luke 3:1. These were no fairy tales. What we have from Luke is a factual account that takes place at a specific point in time. A point in time that can be verified for accuracy. Luke does not fear this scrutiny, else he would not have made himself vulnerable.

Credible Testimony

Luke was not a blogger. He was an investigator, a physician by trade. He carefully gathered information and assembled an orderly narrative of this story about Jesus. Luke 1:2,3 "...just as those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and ministers of the word delivered them to us, it seemed good to me also, having had perfect understanding of all things from the very first, to write to you an orderly account..." Luke took testimony from eyewitnesses. The word "perfect" means complete. His account was not written until he had all the facts together.

The result of Luke's very serious effort is "that you may know the certainty of those things in which you were instructed" Luke 1:4. His writing was not simply to tell a story. Its design is to instill confidence in the reader -- a certainty that the things written are so.

Real Humans

Luke depicts real people who have real life struggles just as you and I. An angel appears to Zacharias. Is he excited about seeing this angel? Luke 1:12 "And when Zacharias saw him, he was troubled, and fear fell upon him." Unlike many today who claim to see angels, Zacharias was afraid, like so many others in the Scriptures who experience these heavenly beings. Mary, the mother of Jesus, had a similar reaction when Gabriel appeared to her. Luke 1:30, "Then the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God."

Because Zacharias didn't believe the angel, he became mute until his promised son was born. Reacting just as humans do, when the child was born the people were trying to communicate with him about the child's name. Luke 1:60 says, "So they made signs to his father--what he would have him called." Zacharias was not deaf, he was mute! Yet the people, in typical human fashion, made signs to him, probably speaking very loudly, asking for the name of the child.

Will You Read With Us?

So the story that continues beyond chapter 1 is designed "to give knowledge of salvation to His people by the remission of their sins, through the tender mercy of our God, with which the Dayspring from on high has visited us; to give light to those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace." Luke 1:77-79.

Will you read the book of Luke with us? Will you let Luke tell this story of Jesus to you? We offer to read this story with others and discuss what Luke says. We let him teach us and our conclusions come from his testimony, one who lived in the time of Jesus and so ably wrote a narrative to help us come to faith. Send us an email or comment telling us of your desire to read together.